Alright boyz, here we go!!! Football Manager 05 First impressions

[MizzouRah]

sendit.com has it for $32.


Todd

[MizzouRah]

dola,

It's bought. Get ready for the questions.


Todd

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by scooter

Do you find yourself doodling tactics on scraps of paper? Filling arrows for runs and initials for players you think could play well it a given position? I've done it. I guess I'm addicted too.

yes.

[jbmagic]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

dola,

It's bought. Get ready for the questions.


Todd

wow you did it..very cool..

i think i going to hold out just a little longer maybe after holiday..hopefully it will be in the US stores by then

how long is the deliverly where you got it at? how much is shipping and tax?

[Marc Vaughan]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

It's from Canada: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...153276797&rd=1

There are/were 10 available. How can you tell if it's pirated, I surely don't want to buy a pirated copy, but if it's legit, consider it bought.

Todd

No way to tell to be honest, could be legit, most likely a decent pirated copy.

The price is under the price that the publisher sells the games to retailers for in England so its very unlikely to be a pukka UK copy (which is what he has indicated), however it could be a grey import from a country with a lower street price (for instance Russian versions market much more cheaply than a western version of the game) ... however if this was the case then the English language translation wouldn't be present in the game (as cheaper SKU's don't carry additional languages to dissuade such grey-importing as much as possible).

As I indicated though, anythings possible ... entirely your call.

[Marc Vaughan]

Just done a quick check on the chap (I keep a rough eye on ebay stuff because of the proliferation of warez versions being sold on there) ...

Most of his stuff appears to be grey imports which he's selling on (a few mentions of them being marked as not for sale outside of 'x'), although a few negative feedbacks might indicate something less positive (basically people indicating that CD-Key's with the products don't work or that the games aren't in the proper packaging) ......

Basically same situation as in my first post really, can't tell .... you're call entirely.

[DaddyTorgo]

pay the full price! I gladly pay full-price for games like this where I get more than my money's worth (which I have to admit I don't think I really did from CM4 for a variety of reasons, but I'd say I'm well on my way to with FM2005). Support Marc and Miles and the rest and their families. Down with warez-copies of small-studio games!!

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by jbmagic

wow you did it..very cool..

i think i going to hold out just a little longer maybe after holiday..hopefully it will be in the US stores by then

how long is the deliverly where you got it at? how much is shipping and tax?

Got it at sendit.com for $32 and some change, that's delivered. Heck of a deal, but I don't expect it for 2 weeks, and that's fine with me, gives me more time to read and learn the game.

Todd

[CHEMICAL SOLDIER]

Okay, can some one re-itirate why the MLS is unplayable.

[CraigSca]

How is sendit.com selling FM2005 for $32? Isn't that below publisher's cost?

[moriarty]

Originally Posted by CHEMICAL SOLDIER

Okay, can some one re-itirate why the MLS is unplayable.

Look back in this thread about three pages and you'll see a full explanation.

[Desnudo]

Well, after about 40 games over two seasons with the new patch, the average scoreline of my games seems to be 1-1. A lot of 0-0 draws and one game where either of the teams scored 4 goals. Two games with 3 goals scored by someone. In all three cases, the other team was shutout. How boring. I've been changing up my tactics to see if it makes an impact, but I still get the same 1-0, 0-0, 0-1 results. Oh well, I'll keep trying.

27 in 22 games in League 1 and I'm 9th in scoring! Ugh.

[RPI-Fan]

Originally Posted by Desnudo

Well, after about 40 games over two seasons with the new patch, the average scoreline of my games seems to be 1-1. A lot of 0-0 draws and one game where either of the teams scored 4 goals. Two games with 3 goals scored by someone. In all three cases, the other team was shutout. How boring. I've been changing up my tactics to see if it makes an impact, but I still get the same 1-0, 0-0, 0-1 results. Oh well, I'll keep trying.

27 in 22 games in League 1 and I'm 9th in scoring! Ugh.

FWIW, these aren't really the results I've been experiencing.

[jbmagic]

rpi-fan

are you happy now with the new patch? or like cm02/03 more?

[Eaglesfan27]

FWIW, I've been happy with the variety of scores in my game too.

[RPI-Fan]

Originally Posted by jbmagic

rpi-fan

are you happy now with the new patch? or like cm02/03 more?

Very pleased with the patch thus far, though I haven't gotten into the meat of the game really (only played a little over a month with my French National Division side - dynasty report is started but I don't like posting until I have several months worth of writing done).

The match engine seems much tighter, and a lot of the little kinks appear to have been worked out. As Chief Rum mentioned, the re-gen issue hopefully is cleared up.

I'll give a more detailed commentary once I start posting my dynasty report - probably will end up being when I reach the new calender year in my game.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by RPI-Fan

Very pleased with the patch thus far, though I haven't gotten into the meat of the game really (only played a little over a month with my French National Division side - dynasty report is started but I don't like posting until I have several months worth of writing done).

The match engine seems much tighter, and a lot of the little kinks appear to have been worked out. As Chief Rum mentioned, the re-gen issue hopefully is cleared up.

I'll give a more detailed commentary once I start posting my dynasty report - probably will end up being when I reach the new calender year in my game.

That's good news. I'm digesting everything I can FM 2005 and another dynasty to read will be welcomed.

Todd

[BreizhManu]

Originally Posted by RPI-Fan

only played a little over a month with my French National Division side

which team did you choose ?

[Eaglesfan27]

I look forward to reading all of these FM dynasties as well.. I surely can use all of the tips I might pick up from them

[Desnudo]

Hmm, maybe my tactics just need more work. I've had three 0-0's in a row.

[FrogMan]

I hvae not played many games with the patch installed, maybe 4 or 5, and I've had scores of 0-0, 1-0, 4-0, 2-2, 1-2 so I don't think it is necessarily keeping scores low for me.

One thing I like very much is that the 2D engine is much more realistic. The flow is better and I see more scrambles for the ball in the box following either a save by my keeper, or a ball hitting a post. I also see more balls rebounding on a player, on crosses for example. Pre-patch, it sometimes felt like watching a 2D rendition of FIFA2002 (the last version I own), where any ball centered would leave the foot of the player making the center and it wouldn't be touched before it got to the center of the field. Now, I feel like I see more crosses getting at least deflected by a defender, and I like that touch of realism very much...

One comment about something that used to bug me: goals in the first minute or two of a match. Well, a local sports station around here (CTW Sportsnet for my fellow Canadian friends) was showing a match from the Spanish Prima Liga, between Barcelone and some other team, and it just happened. A quick breakaway, a scramble in front of the net and bang, a goal after 1:45 or something like that It used to bug me cause I felt like there would be one about every other game. They seem to have toned that down too...

FM

[cougarfreak]

I just installed some stuff from a megapak........looks good. It's on the SI boards under graphic/skinning hideout if you guys wanna have a look.

[RPI-Fan]

Originally Posted by BreizhManu

which team did you choose ?

Cannes (yes, I know, I'm a wuss)

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by cougarfreak

I just installed some stuff from a megapak........looks good. It's on the SI boards under graphic/skinning hideout if you guys wanna have a look.

I wanted to ask about this. Any of you guys has installed a different skin than the one that comes with the game?

I downloaded and install the "Stone" skin and I think it looks very good. Better contrast between the text and the background...

It's available from a bunch of place. If there's any interest, I'll post a screenshot of one of my players for you to see what I mean.

Oh, and I also changed my game ball

FM

[Eaglesfan27]

I'm interested in a seeing a screen shot of it. I'm using all default options right now.

[cougarfreak]

Originally Posted by FrogMan

I wanted to ask about this. Any of you guys has installed a different skin than the one that comes with the game?

I downloaded and install the "Stone" skin and I think it looks very good. Better contrast between the text and the background...

It's available from a bunch of place. If there's any interest, I'll post a screenshot of one of my players for you to see what I mean.

Oh, and I also changed my game ball

FM

I've been using the "chameleon skin", i'll give the stone a look.

[cougarfreak]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

I'm interested in a seeing a screen shot of it. I'm using all default options right now.

It adds so much, impossible to put up a screen shot.

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by cougarfreak

It adds so much, impossible to put up a screen shot.

huh? Don't know what you mean, anyway, here are two...

The first one if of my team selection...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...M2005/team.gif


The second one is from the player page of one of my top strikers...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...005/howard.gif

On the player page, I like how contrasting the high skills show up. You really can see now when a player has like 4 or 5 orange ones

FM

[FrogMan]

dola, the color contrast doesn't even show up as much, since I saved them as gif...

Anyway, I like it. I looked at screenshots of the chameleon one and found it to be a bit too dark at times...

FM

[cougarfreak]

Originally Posted by FrogMan

huh? Don't know what you mean, anyway, here are two...

The first one if of my team selection...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...M2005/team.gif


The second one is from the player page of one of my top strikers...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...005/howard.gif

On the player page, I like how contrasting the high skills show up. You really can see now when a player has like 4 or 5 orange ones

FM

I was talking about the megapak. It includes about 7 skins, facepaks, club logos, competition logos, etc..........

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by FrogMan

huh? Don't know what you mean, anyway, here are two...

The first one if of my team selection...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...M2005/team.gif


The second one is from the player page of one of my top strikers...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...005/howard.gif

On the player page, I like how contrasting the high skills show up. You really can see now when a player has like 4 or 5 orange ones

FM

I definitely like it!! I assume that it will work even with an ongoing career?

[McSweeny]

those screen shots look amazing... is there a link for the lazy?

[BreizhManu]

Originally Posted by RPI-Fan

Cannes (yes, I know, I'm a wuss)

Sure there are bigger challenges but it's not a bad choice.

Now you MUST promote !

[Eaglesfan27]

I just finished installing it.. Is there an option to keep the menu links on the left? Otherwise, I really like it (and I could adjust to the menus being on the right.)

Edit: I found it by googling "Stone Skin" I'd give you a link, but I've already forgot which FM site I downloaded it from. I do know that I didn't see it on the dugout.

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by McSweeny

those screen shots look amazing... is there a link for the lazy?

you can find it on corefm.net. okay, okay, here's a direct download link, before you ask for one

http://www.corefm.net/pafiledb/pafil...on=file&id=139

FM

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

I just finished installing it.. Is there an option to keep the menu links on the left? Otherwise, I really like it (and I could adjust to the menus being on the right.)

As you can see from my screen shots, I've made it into a left handed skin, well they did include instructions on how to

From the skin's readme file...

By default the layout is a right-handed one, to change the layout to a left-handed layout, first rename the "global panels.xml" file (in your stone > panels folder) to something like "global panels right.xml" - then rename the included "(left) global panels.xml" file to "global panels.xml" - when you load up the skin for the next time - bam, left-handed.

FM

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

I definitely like it!! I assume that it will work even with an ongoing career?

I know you've installed it, but yeah it is independent from any savegame. It's simply a skin through which your game looks different...

Glad you all liked it

FM

[McSweeny]

Originally Posted by FrogMan

you can find it on corefm.net. okay, okay, here's a direct download link, before you ask for one

http://www.corefm.net/pafiledb/pafil...on=file&id=139

FM

i wasn't being overly lazy... the link over at the sigames forums didn't work :P

thanks a bunch

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by FrogMan

As you can see from my screen shots, I've made it into a left handed skin, well they did include instructions on how to

From the skin's readme file...

FM

Ah, I somehow missed that...

Doing it now as I really prefer it to be left handed

[Eaglesfan27]

Thanks for pointing this skin out Frogman. I really like it, and now that it is left handed, it's perfect. It will be great when/if I make it to the upper leagues to see the different colors for attributes.

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by McSweeny

i wasn't being overly lazy... the link over at the sigames forums didn't work :P

thanks a bunch

I know, I also saw the bad link at SIGames...

FM

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

Thanks for pointing this skin out Frogman. I really like it, and now that it is left handed, it's perfect. It will be great when/if I make it to the upper leagues to see the different colors for attributes.

I also prefer it to be at the left, don't really know, probably how my mind works, it simply makes more sense for me to see a roll down menu go down from the left to the right than the other way around...

FM

[Godzilla Blitz]

Originally Posted by CraigSca

How is sendit.com selling FM2005 for $32? Isn't that below publisher's cost?

When I ordered on Thursday, there were a lot of British websites selling the game for 18 pounds. Sendit.com was selling it for 17 pounds, plus another 1.60 for shipping, so that's not far off from what seems to be the standard British price.

I think it actually works out closer to $35 with shipping, to get it here. Shipping is less than $3, which helps keep the cost down.

Good deal, IMHO.

[MizzouRah]

Ok, in preparation for the game, which hopefully gets here sometime next week, what else should I download? I have the patch, stone skin, and I think I'm going to see what the newer soccer balls look like. Anything else?

Thanks,

Todd

[Marc Vaughan]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

Ok, in preparation for the game, which hopefully gets here sometime next week, what else should I download? I have the patch, stone skin, and I think I'm going to see what the newer soccer balls look like. Anything else?

Thanks,

Todd

If you like player pictures/skins/balls etc. then check sortitoutsi.net as they carry pretty much everything you might want.

There are various other items you can skin on the match (goal mouths, players etc.) - but I haven't tried these out myself ... someone else can probably indicate if they're worth getting (but I second the use of the 'Stone' skin myself as its cool ).

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by Marc Vaughan

If you like player pictures/skins/balls etc. then check sortitoutsi.net as they carry pretty much everything you might want.

There are various other items you can skin on the match (goal mouths, players etc.) - but I haven't tried these out myself ... someone else can probably indicate if they're worth getting (but I second the use of the 'Stone' skin myself as its cool ).

Thanks Marc! I've been to that site and downloaded a few things. That Chromepro soccer ball looks excellent.


Todd

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

Thanks Marc! I've been to that site and downloaded a few things. That Chromepro soccer ball looks excellent.


Todd

very interesting that you say that. I mentionned before that I had changed my game ball, and the chrome pro is the one I use I think it gives the 2D engine a very professional look...

FM

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by FrogMan

very interesting that you say that. I mentionned before that I had changed my game ball, and the chrome pro is the one I use I think it gives the 2D engine a very professional look...

FM

Yeah, I can't wait to see that one in the game.


Todd

[Eaglesfan27]

You were right about the skin FM, so I guess I need to at least take a look at the soccer ball. Is it easy to change back in case I don't like it?

[cougarfreak]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

You were right about the skin FM, so I guess I need to at least take a look at the soccer ball. Is it easy to change back in case I don't like it?

Just save the ones you are copying over. If you go over to hxxp://www.sortitoutsi.net/ there are alot of different balls you can download to your liking.